Pavement marker



June 3, 1952 CARROLL 2,599,230

PAVEMENT MARKER Filed Jan. 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 15 7 5 2773:? Georye F ar/all June 3, 1952 CARROLL 2,599,230

PAVEMENT MARKER Filed Jan. 26, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I? VE 277'??? Gear e i ['arroli Patented June 3, 1-952 NI TED S PAT- .2.,599,2a0 *BAVEMENT MARKER George-1 Garroll, Chicago, Ill. nrr i ti fffa rx 2 9 i8fiefialflmt29 This invention-relates .to improvements in; pavement markers, :and particularly-to improve'dnon struetions of pavement markers 01' :this type wherein a rubber or plastic-element is intee-rally meldedaroun'd a nelatively rigid plate whiohcooperates with bolt-like anchoring :dev ioes tenseeur'ing the marker ina flat position on thesurface of a pavement.

Pavement markers :for-med of rnbber-orrnbb'er- 'likematerial have been-heretofore known in the art. zForexample, the patents tolIartzler and Romi'lly, (Nos; 1,7 %,467, ::l;,19.8;468 and -:1;83D;319 illustrate-"various ior-mseo' rubber molded pavemerit markers of the typeto-twhich this-invention relates. L-Such prior constructions-however, ha've been subjected to several well known ltii'sadvanrages. in the first place, the visibility ofsuch marker elements isnot :all that canbe-desired. Obviously, the surface of the marker --e1ement rapidly become's clis'coloredsdne-to the passage of vehicles Jthereover and, since the surfaee areaof the marker element is relatively smalL -w ith-respent -to.- the area ofthe pavement inwhich it is disposed, and further-more, since such :marker elements-are constructed with a minim-ummvera-1l heig htabovethe pavement surfaee so as to avoid producing detectable bumps whema vehiole wheel passes thereover, it 'is apparent that-the visibility of thema'rker element "is relatively poor, particularlyat nighter-unii'er unfavorable lig'h'ting conditions. =AecorZii ne'1y,-- one object oT -this invention is "to provi'de =an'"improved pavement markerconstruction ohar-aoterized by the m orporation of -reaiily visible lemen-tsen the eep surface ef the markerso that even=under ail-verse lighting conditions, the --marker;- wii1 be very apparentto the eye.

A further =iiisadvantage--of known marker -constructions lies 'inthe' fact thata-=threaled-"conn'ec'tion was generally employed between the mounting plate, about whieh'the rubber material was =mol'de'd, and the J anchoring belt which was mounted in a verticalposition inthe pavement. Unlesssueh-elements were sufiicientiy'tightened onathe eoopera-ting fthreads .so-ias to 3am the threads, thereby efiecting permanent secure'ment of the markerelement to *fihefindhqflng bolt; ithe marker elements were often loosened from their anchoring bolts byvirtuejof the'laterali'force imparted to the rnbber boiiy portion "of therma-rlrer v braking as it p'asses overone si'de efthemarker.

Having once loosened, the markei smeire a refifi y prey to removal or damage by subsequent vehicles;

" therein. "Si-nee -suoh-ma1 l er elements are sub -jeeted-toparticularly harsh cendinoneetweamt is obviousthat replacement is reqt'iired at rela tively frequent intervals-and Fhenoe any-dimenties in thereplaoement process-added maternity to the overall maintenance cost.

I-t is an obj ect ef-this invention to providean improved pavement marker w construction char aeterized bythefiact that the pavement marker may be readily assembled to or removedifliremuan anohoring bolt 7 and yet is 'not subjeGt'-'-todiS-' assembly by-the lateral forcesexe'rted kbywh'ieles passing thereover.

' 'I her-eare-some applications ofzpavementmarkers-wher'e-the conditions of'wearfiare not sogextreme but that a permanent-installation =of lthe marker "may be desirable. Accordingly, {it ea further object of this invention to i-provitie an improved pavement marker "anchoringaconstruo tion -ewnieh willnotonly permanently afiehorgthe marker element to the pavement surf a'ee against vertical displacement, but will afiso resist any tendenciesof =marker element to =rotate're1ative to thepavementeby'theapplieation of lateral forces-thereto. This latter construction :is :par ticularly outstanding inasmuchas the notational anchoringeflect is achieved without anydem plioation of the manufactnringeprocess' by' Whieh thegpavementmarker istproduceii.

The speoific= nature of this inveintion, zas evell as other objects and advantages thereof} wilhhes come apparent to "those: skilled iin dahe aift ifind the following detailed description oi theannexed sheetsotdrawings whiehgby waym pre'ierrecir'example only, illustratea plurallty'of speoifiezem bodiments of'ithekinventionr On -the drawings: Figure 1 is:a bottomlnlan'viewtofiallarge marker -'elen1ent embodying-one :of theeimounting eon struotions of the invention; e

tenor-e 2 -i'sa vertiealseoti'onal-viewitakenralong the plane II-II of Figure 1 of a marker element of Figure 1 in its assembled relationship with respect to a pavement;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of mounting construction embodying this invention showing the assembly thereof in a circular disk marker unit;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a circular disk type of marker unit illustrating a still further modified construction of an anchoring element embodying this invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the spring catch element employed in the modification of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of a circular disk marker element embodying a still further modification of this invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the assemblage of the marker element of Figure 6 in a pavement;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the marker element of Figure 6 with th anchoring bolts removed;

Figure 9 is an enlarged scale, partial sectional view taken on the plane IX-IX of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a partial, vertical sectional view of a marker element utilizing an anchoring arrangement similar to that of the modification of Figures 6 through -8 but showing a manner of incorporating a light reflecting unit in the top surface thereof; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the anchoring bolt used in the assemblage of Figure 7.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a detachable pavement marker construction embodying one modification of this invention. While the specific shape of the marker illustrated in Figure 2 is that of a relatively large elliptical marker employing two anchoring bolts, it is to be understood that the anchoring construction disclosed therein is equally applicable to the more common type constituting a circular disk marker. In any event, the marker element there shown comprises a mounting plate Iii which is perforated at spaced points as indicated at Ilia, so as to facilitate the integral securement of an envelope of rubber or rubber-like plastic material H in surrounding relationship to substantially all of the mounting plate [0. At any desired points on the mounting plate If), for example adjacent each end thereof, a plurality of circularly spaced mounting apertures lflb are provided in plate lil. In each mounting aperture lilb, a generally 2- shaped spring finger I2 is mounted by having one end portion l2a thereof lying on the top of plate It) and rigidly secured thereto as by rivets l3. The free end portions l2b of the fingers l2 are thus disposed in depending relationship to the mounting plate In and are suitably constructed so that when applied to the round head of a vertical anchoring bolt l4 the free ends of said fingers will be outwardly displaced and then will resiliently snap into engagement behind the head portion Ma of the anchoring bolt I l. The anchoring bolt I4 is, of course, rigidly anchored in the pavement IS in any conventional manner. An identical arrangement of spring fingers and anchoring bolt are provided to cooperate with the other set of apertures lllb in the plate l8. Hence both ends of the plate III are snugly secured to the pavement l5, and the rubber mass ll of the marker element is held tightly against the surface of,pavement l5 against any lateral or vertical displacements. 7

. To increase the resistance to shearing forces 4 which are often imparted to the rubber mass II, the mounting plate I0 is formed with its central portion vertically depressed with respect to its peripheral portion lllc. Hence, a generally vertically extending shoulder Hid is defined at the juncture of these two portions and said shoulder substantially increases the shear resistance of the rubber mass I l. V

In accordance with this invention, the visibility of the marker element may b substantially improved by increasing the apparent height thereof through the provision of upstanding deformable ribs or flaps Ila and llb which may be conveniently integrally formed with the rubber mass l l. The flaps lid and l lb are made of sufficiently thin walled construction so that they are readily flattened by the passage of a vehicle wheel thereover. Hence, the apparent visibility of the marker element is greatly increased without increasing the effective height of the marker element so far as its bump producing properties are concerned. Preferably, a plurality of such upstanding flaps are provided, including respectively, transversely spaced, longitudinally extending flaps Ila and longitudinally spaced, transversely extending flaps llb. The flaps lla and llb are cut away at their juncture portions so as to eliminate th rigidifying effect of the juncture which would otherwise be produced.

With the described construction, it is apparent that the marker element will be firmly secured in the pavement l5 against all normal forces produced thereon by passing vehicles. However, the marker element may, when desired, be removed from the anchoring bolt by the insertion of a sharp-edged tool under one edge of the marker element and the application of an upward prying force thereto which will defiect the mounting plate l0 sufficiently as to permit the free end portions l2b of the spring fingers l2 to be disengaged from the bolt head l4. Hence, a worn marker element may be removed and replaced by a new element without requiring the digging up of the anchoring bolt or its replacement.

A modified construction of anchoring element is illustrated in Figure 3 and, while shown in this figure as applied to a circular disk configuration of the rubber mass, it is obviously equally applicable to any shape or marker element desired. In this construction, a pair of mounting plates 20 and 2| are provided which are peripherally rigidly secured together, as by welding, and have their intermediate central portions 20a and Zla disposed in spaced relationship. Prior to the welding operations, a plurality of spring fingers 22 having horizontally extending portions 22a and vertically extending intermediate portions 221) are assembled in circumferentially spaced relationship with their horizontal portions 22a disposed in the space between the plates 23 and 2| and the vertically extending intermediate portions 22b projecting downwardly through the plate 20 through suitable apertures 20b provided therein. By this construction, it is found that the spring fingers 22 are permanently secured to the welded assemblage of plates 20 and 2| and yet do not require the application of individual rivets thereto.

As in the previous modification, a rubber mass 25 is cast about the plates 20 and 2l and substantially covers such plates except for the bottom central portion thereof, by which the depending portions 22?) of the spring fingers 22 are left exposed.

Thefree ends of the spring fingers 22 areinturned as-indicated at 22c andare thus arrangedto snapinto engagement behind the'head portion I ia of the-customary headed anchoring bolt The peripheral portions 200 of plate 20' are verticallydisplaced relative to the central porrespond to lateral forcesimparted thereto by:

thepassage of, avehicle wheel over one side of themarker element and accordingly, the life-of the: marker element is substantially increased.

In the modification illustrated in Figures- 4 and 5, the mounting assemblage for the circular disk marking element will also permit the relative rotation of such element with respect to the pavement. In this modification, a mounting plate 30 has the central portion thereof depressed, as

indicated at 30a, and the bottom of the depressedv portion cut out to provide the aperture 3%. A'reinforcing plate 3| may, if desired, be welded to the top of plate 39 extending across the depressed portion 3ila. A rubber mass 32 isthen molded about the plates 30 and 3|, and substantially covers such plates except for the depressed portion 30a. Such mass may incorporate upstanding visibility flaps 32a which are disposed in generally spoke-like relationship on the top surface of the rubber mass.

To effect the detachable securement of the mounting plate 30 to an anchoring stud 34 embedded in the pavement by any conventional devices, a spring catch element 33 is employed hav ing a circular, centrally apertured base portion 33a and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upstanding, spring arm portions 3% with outturned free ends 330. The spring catch 33 is secured to the mounting stud 34 byhaving thebase portion thereof clamped between two nuts 35 which are screwed onto the threaded mounting stud 34. In this position, when the downturned apertured portion 3% of the plate '38 is pressed downwardly against the free end portions 330 of the spring catch element as, such end portions will yield inwardly to enter the aperture 36b and will then snap outwardly into engagement with the walls defining the plate aperture 301). Hence the marker element will be held in assembly with the anchoring stud 34.

In the modification of this invention illustrated in Figures 6 through 9 and 11, a permanent assemblage of the marker element to its anchoring bolt is contemplated. Again, the marker comprises a relatively rigid, circular mounting plate 45.] having a, conically shaped, apertured, downturned central portion sta which is shaped to correspond to the head Ma of a mounting bolt ii. As best illustrated by the perspective view of bolt 4i (Figure 11), the shank portion llb of the bolt has an axially extending slot, slit or split therethrough dividing the shank portion into two portions Me and Md. These portions are bowed in opposite directions parallel to the slit so that when the bolt is driven into a cylindrical hole in the pavement, the bowed portions sic and did will be forced toward each other against the resiliency thereof, as illustrated in Figure 7, and the resiliency thereof will securely frictionally lock the bolt 4! in the pavement.

Onceagain the-peripheral portions 40aof the mounting plate it are -vertically ofiset with re spect to :the plane of the central portion thereon" so; as" to provide reinforcement against shearforcesof the rubber mass 42 cast therearoundi In this modification, the rubbermass 62 ismolded around the mounting plate 5.6" soas to expose not only-the conical, downturnedportion 40a on the-i bottom thereof butalso to definea recess-42w in" the top of the mass which will permit theah'eadl; of the anchoring bolt 4 l to passtherethrough-into seating engagement with :the downturned fconn calportion sea of the mounting plate; I'have found it to be veryimportantto the'useful life" of the marker element thus constructed-that the recess lia be completely closed when the'marker ing therecess 7 Ha, it is-insured that little, ii-- any;

dirt, water or other corrosive material will -"be permitted to contact the mountingplate Ail-andthe anchoring bolt 4!.

It has been previously mentioned thatw the shank portion Mb of the anchoring bolt s1 is 'of Accordingly, the aperture the mounting plate Adthrough:

mil-circular configuration.

which such shank portion-must pass must necessarily also be of non-circular configuration aS iS best shownin Figure 8; In accordancewith this invention, advantage is taken of such non-circular configuration of the aperture iilb to provide an anchoring of the marker unit against rotational displacements relative to the pavement. Hence, the aperture Mib is purposely formed to include one or more generally radially extending wall portions Mic and such wall portions are then turned downwardly slightly in the same stamping operation in which the aperture 4%?) is formed, so as to produce a downwardly projecting tooth Mid as is best shown in the enlarged scale view of Figure 9. The provision of one or more of such downturned teeth 40d produces a biting engagement into the adjacent surface of the pavement l5 and hence efiects a secure anchoring of the marker element against rotational displacements.

In Figure 10 I have indicated a further modified construction of a marker element which is illustrated in connection with an anchoring construction generally similar to that shown in Figures 6 through 9 but the principles thereof will be recognized to be applicable to any of the marker constructions heretofore disclosed. As in the modification of Figures 6 through 9, the rubber mass 42 is molded onto the mounting plate ii) and during such molding operation a recess 42a is formed in the top surface thereof which is aligned with the aperture Qilb in the mounting plate 4Q. After the insertion of the mounting bolt 4! through the recess 42a, the

recess 52a is closed by a disk which is formed' of translucent material and is constructed in such manner as to have reflecting properties. For example, the disk it may be formed of a translucent plastic and have the bottom surface thereof cut to define a plurality of depending pyramidal projections 45a. Such construction, which is commonly referred to as cats eye reflector will insure that any light striking the top surface of the reflector disk 45 will be'refiected from the bottom surface thereof. Hence, the visibility of any marker element incorporating such a refiector unit is greatly improved, particularly under adverse illumination conditions. Obviously, the reflector disk 45 maybe incorporated in 7 any other of the other marker constructions which have been heretofore described but it is particularly adaptable for incorporation of a marker construction of the type shown in Figure 10, inasmuch as the recess 42a must necessarily be formed in the rubber mass 42 to permit the insertion of the mounting bolt 4: therethrough. From the foregoing description it is apparent that the various modifications of this invention provide pavement markers of greatly improved characteristics and all of such improvements are accomplished without in any way complicating the manufacturing processes by which the markers are produced or the assembly of the marker in a pavement.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be modified through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A pavement marker comprising a relatively rigid plate, a pavement anchoring element having a non-circular shank portion and an. enlarged head portion, said plate having a noncircular aperture therein with said non-circular shank portion of said element inserted therethrough, said aperture having at least one generally radially disposed-wall portion, said last mentioned wall portion extending downwardly to provide a tooth adapted to engage in the pavement surface to resist rotation of said plate relative to the pavement, and an envelope of molda-ble material substantially surrounding all of said plate except those portions adjacent said aperture.

GEORGE F. CARROLL.

REFERENCES (51m) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,661,242 Truxal Mar. 6, 1928 1,746,312 Lee Feb. 11, 1930 1,798,467 Hartzler et a1 Mar. 31, 1931 1,804,231 Shunk May 5, 1931 1,818,523 Ziedrich Aug. 11, 1931 1,952,471 Stern et al Mar. 27, 1934 2,015,031 Fischer Sept. 17, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 286,168 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1928 23,803 Australia 1929 of 1929 446,059 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1936 

